Facing a six-goal second-half deficit, the Canisius College women’s lacrosse team rallied to tie the game but in the end, nationally-ranked Boston College prevailed with a 12-10 victory in Newton, Mass. on Sunday. The loss ends the Griffs’ school-record nine-game winning streak as the team drops to 11-4 on the season, while the 18th-ranked Eagles improve to 11-6.

“We had a real sloppy six or seven minutes in the first half that cost us today,” said Canisius head coach Scott Teeter. “I’m proud with the way that we responded in the second half and played right with a top-20 team. Kayla Scully played really well today and did a good job of keeping us in the game. If we can only figure out a way to play a full 60 minutes against a top team, we’ll be successful, but we have to put it all together so far.”

Junior Maria Kotas tied for a game-high with four points, netting three goals to go along with one assist. With her four points, the junior becomes the ninth player in the program’s history to record her 100th career point. The midfielder now has 103 points during her tenure with the Blue and Gold, recording 70 goals and 33 assists.

Sophomore Tori Quinn also added four points for the Griffs, posting two goals and two assists. Senior Morgan Leonard chipped in two tallies, while seniors Meghan McGunigle and Lindsey Morgan plus freshman Caroline Ogden all added one goal.

Sophomore Kayla Scully anchored the Canisius defense on the afternoon, matching her career high with 12 saves in the second-consecutive contest.

A sloppy first half ultimately cost the Griffs in the game. Kotas wasted no time recording her 100th career point, scoring the game’s opening goal 1:55 into the contest on Canisius’ first shot of the game. However, Boston College soon took control by taking advantage of the Griffs’ miscues. The Eagles scored four-straight goals for a 4-1 lead, while Canisius committed turnovers on five-straight possessions without registering a shot.

McGunigle and Leonard halted the Boston College run with their first goals of the day to bring Canisius back within one, 4-3, but four-straight tallies to end the half by the Eagles gave Boston College an 8-3 intermission advantage.

Overall, the nationally-ranked Eagles outshot the Griffs, 19-8, in the first 30 minutes of action, while Canisius committed three more turnovers (11) than shots recorded (eight).

The Griffs, however, responded in the second stanza with a much better effort. After the Eagles netted the half’s first goal, a pair of scores by Quinn sandwiched around a tally from Morgan pulled Canisius within three, 9-6, with 17:20 remaining in the period. Boston College interrupted the rally for a 10-6 lead but Canisius scored the next four goals, the last two by Kotas, to pull even at 10 with 12:01 left in the contest.

Kotas won the ensuing draw control and the Griffs had their chance to grab their first lead since 1-0 but a save by the Boston College goalie and a Canisius turnover kept the contest knotted at 10. The Eagles were finally able to run its offense and took advantage when Sarah Mannelly scored with 5:54 remaining. Mannelly added a second-straight goal 1:22 later to stretch the Eagles’ advantage to two, 12-10. Boston College was then able to hold onto the win with two missed shots by Canisius and one turnover as the No. 18 Eagles won their seventh-straight game.

Boston College finished the game with a 31-21 advantage in shots but Canisius held the slight advantage in the second stanza, 13-12. The Eagles also won 16 draw controls to just eight for the Griffs.

Mikaela Rix led Boston College with four goals and seven draw controls. Emily Mata recorded six saves in net to earn the win for the Eagles.

Canisius now turns its attention back toward conference play with a home game against Marist on Saturday. The Griffs can earn the outright MAAC regular-season title and the program’s first undefeated conference season with a win against the Red Foxes. Canisius’ Senior Day contest is slated to begin at 11 a.m. at the Demske Sports Complex.

Game Notes: Canisius is now 0-17 all-time against nationally-ranked schools with four of the last six meetings being decided by three or fewer goals … The Griffs are 0-3 all-time against Boston College and 0-4 versus ACC schools … Scully entered the game ranked first nationally in save percentage at .546 … The Griffs are now 0-4 this season when allowing 10 or more goals (11-0 when allowing fewer than 10 tallies).